controls 1 of 2

plural of control
1
as in controllers
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

Synonyms & Similar Words

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controls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of control
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2
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of controls
Noun
Interior trims range from basic to luxurious, but all feature easy to use controls, physical switches and dials for key functions and one of the auto industry’s best touch screens and infotainment systems. Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Tightening them further, and de-linking cost controls from revenue, just might. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025 Such additions include new parental controls and changes to the way the chatbot handles conversations that may involve signs of distress. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025 There's a new multifunction steering wheel—that will surely be divisive—which puts the ADAS controls on its left side, and media controls on the right. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025 The display can be set to show the time or more complex things like Google Home controls or your favorite photo album if the device is charging. PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025 The only initially noticeable shortcoming is a lack of buttons and dials for climate controls. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025 For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awards over $100 million per year through its Nonprofit Security Grant Program to fund physical security upgrades such as cameras, lighting, barriers, access controls, and training for places of worship. Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 30 Aug. 2025 Stormwater management and pollution controls are critical to maintaining water quality. Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
Users may believe their chats are private, but in many cases, the company controls how the information is stored, shared or even sold. Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Blue Frontier is commercializing the technology by integrating it into its Dedicated Outdoor Air System, a 20-ton unit installed in Florida, which controls temperature and humidity while operating primarily during periods of solar photovoltaic production. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025 Some funiculars are driverless, but the Glória Funicular typically has a brakeman on board, who controls the streetcar’s movement. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025 In 2023, Woodland was diagnosed with a lesion on the part of the brain that controls fear and anxiety. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025 Dystonia is thought to begin in the part of the brain called the basal ganglia that controls how muscles contract. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is 30% off, giving you a bedside smart display that tracks your sleep, controls lights and music, and responds to simple hand gestures without needing to touch the screen. Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025 Then just four months ago, the Supreme Court stated that adherence to extant precedent like Humphrey's Executor controls in resolving stay motions. Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025 And while the Fed controls a short-term rate, financial markets determine longer-term borrowing costs for mortgages and other loans. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls
Noun
  • But in the meantime, the FAA has over-relied on controllers working overtime to keep its towers staffed, according to a congressional study released in June.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Just days earlier, on May 9, radar screens went dark for 90 seconds, forcing controllers to warn incoming aircraft about potential communication issues, according to FAA reports.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The trilogy fight between the two saw Shevchenko walk away from UFC 306 with the title back in her hands.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The largest ethnic group within that population is Burmese Muslims – known as Rohingya – who have been denied Burmese citizenship, faced widespread human rights abuses and, starting in 2016, genocide at the hands of the Burmese military.
    Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Net store growth in mainland China won’t exceed 10 this year, according to Wednesday’s call, as the company wants to focus on improving each existing store’s operations instead of aggressively expanding.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
  • However, given its heavy sourcing and operations in China, any listing must by approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), making Hong Kong a more straight-forward option than any other city, including, for instance, Singapore.
    Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Roald Dahl's beloved 1988 novel about a young girl named Matilda with telekinetic powers has gotten its fair share of adaptations over the years.
    Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Witnessing the rise of the internet, cellphones and social media as a teenager, Acutis harnessed these new powers of communication and coded a website to catalogue and promote eucharistic miracles.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The measure also regulates commercial cannabis activity and levies a 5% federal excise tax on marijuana products, rising to 8% after five years.
    A.J. Herrington, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a kind of traffic controller for fat inside cells, revealing a mechanism that could help explain how the body regulates energy storage and why things go wrong in metabolic disease.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Eggplant also contains small amounts of vitamins C, K and B6.
    Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This article contains spoilers for Splitsville.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Play by play caller Mike Tirico will be joined alongside by analyst Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Melissa Stark and rules analyst Terry McAulay.
    Mark J. Burns, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Parents will gain the ability to control how ChatGPT responds, with age-appropriate behavior rules on by default.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There are exceptions, such as when the National Guard operates under state authority or when the Insurrection Act is invoked, allowing the president to deploy troops during major unrest or emergencies.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Justice Defenders operates with a combination of federal money and in-kind ABA contributions, using the funds to support human rights defenders facing criminal charges, frivolous lawsuits and harassment.
    Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Controls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controls. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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